Rigid Ice, Raging Flame

A/N: Even though this totally goes against the whole angst genre of the story, this chapter is for all of my readers… and I am going to make it a happy ending. I am not to sure if I am good at writing those though, so you guys will have to review and let me know. It would be awesome to break 100 reviews! Crosses her fingers and prays

Chapter 7- Alternate Ending 2 (Takes place after Chapter 6)

Her body was a pool, flooded by her thoughts. Her heart was the hole in which it all ended up. She was breaking, diminishing from all existence in her eyes. The same eyes that had seen death. She was in the same body that had killed only moments ago. Rationality was lost in oblivion. A part still remained in her. It gripped its icy fingers around her anger, and ripped.

Quistis had the whip positioned to sever his head. Her inner turmoil was too much. The hand that was once alive like raging flames died down and fell limp at her side. With a thud, the whip was on the ground. That same liquid emotion she had experienced many times before began to pour from her soul. Looking down at Seifer, she realized for the first time how terrified he was. She reached out her other hand towards him, beckoning him to hold her. The hurt expression on his face stung when it slapped her.

"Seifer…"

When she said his name finally, said anything really, he didn't know what to think. In the same instant, he felt bad, scared, and in love. It confused him tremendously. She had her hand out for him to take hold of. His mind told him to sit there, his heart yearned for her touch. In the end… the rational part of him won. Seifer sat looking up at her, everything he had been thinking was expressed in the jade of his eyes.

"Seifer…"

Everyone was in shock. Squall had come around the corner, but stood there dumb-founded. 'What exactly was going on' he wondered. He took a moment to survey the area. Three were dead, their body parts strewn over the ground. Obviously Diablos' work. Another four were seriously injured. Dried blood was caked to the sides of their faces. Quistis' doing. No one moved for long periods of time, they just stood watching Quistis and Seifer. It was doubtful that anyone was even so much as breathing.

On the inside, Seifer was remembering the end to his dream.

Before he could stop, Hyperion left it sheath and entered his grasp. The air was still and she held her breath. The blade hissed through the air, and met with flesh. She gasped… and began her descent. Seifer reached his hands out and tried to catch her, but she disappeared into the mirror, and the last thing he always heard was… " I loved you…"

Quistis took the hint. He did not want to be around her. He had loved her. She still loved him.

There was a funeral that day for those who had been killed. Everyone in the Garden came. Everyone except Quistis and Seifer. They both were locked in their rooms.

Seifer was laid upon the bed, the blankets scattered across the floor. His chest rose and fell in a steady motion. He was sleeping. He was dreaming.

Everything was silent, the darkness wrapped him up. Was he alone? Turning his head to the left… he saw the mirror, and it quivered under his gaze. Quistis. He had killed her. Looking down, Hyperion was still in his hands, and the blood still clung to it.

Ripples went across the silver like glass. A hand appeared, and dark crimson dripped from the fingertips. The air was caught in his throat. She hadn't died. Her arm next, and then the rest. It was no longer a dress she wore. Quistis' hair was a pale blue… and looked to be partially frozen. She was naked, completely. Her skin was the same pale blue, with icicles clinging to different parts. Her toenails and fingernails were completely frozen, and her lips were white. The only thing that caught him was her eyes. The color had changed, from that wonderful blue… to something clear and crystal like.

When she walked towards him, a sound emitted from her steps. It was like, a cold, soft wind blowing through wind chimes. Unknowingly, he had fell to his knees. Quistis looked down upon him, the blood still falling from her right hand. She reached it out towards him, motioning for him to come closer. He slowly moved his hand towards her, and when she grabbed it… Seifer was incased in the ice.

Quistis sat upon the window seat, her head leaned against the glass. Even in her quiet slumber, he tormented her.

The black rain had fallen, blotting out the light of day. Quistis stood in the orchard, next to the bench. The cherry blossoms had died out for the season. The things she had felt were still so fresh on her body.

"Quistis..." His voice rumbled like thunder through her mind. Her eyes frantically searched for him. Lightning cracked its arm down barely 30 feet away from her and struck the ground.

The debris flew around her, billowing her hair in every direction.

Then he appeared in front of her.

He was dressed in red. The pants he wore tumbled down his legs like fire, as did the shirt. His hair was long, and burned down his back. His eyes bore into her, and ripped her apart. The ground where he stood was set ablaze, the grass shriveling up. The heat from his body made it hard for her to breathe.

Seifer reached his hand out to her, his eyes and body summoning her. The flames licked her fingers. She was engulfed in the fire.

In opposite ends of Garden, two people awoke at the same time. Two sets of eyes were full of understanding, and two hearts beat at the same quickened pace. Bodies moved out into the darkness to join in meeting.

They were meant to be together. Fate had entwined their destinies. Love had joined their hearts.

He crept his way through the shadows of night towards the orchard. There was no doubt in his mind that she would be there.

She was there, and he was not. His absence pained her heart. Uncontrollably, she reached for the dagger concealed inside of her boot. For all of her fingers, she made a reason for loving him, and imprinted it upon herself eternally.

Love overpowers all, it erases the senses.

Seifer walked into the clearing to see Quistis lying back on the bench. Darkness dripped from the trees, and swallowed the stars. He would have thought the scene extremely beautiful, if not for one thing. Blood. There was blood streaked down her face and arms. Blood trickled down into her hair.

"QUISTIS!" He ran towards her, and stopped when she sat up. Her eyes were wide with surprise. Her voice was low and sad. "I didn't think you were coming…" She motioned to the dagger lying at her feet. "I couldn't control myself." He moved to her side and kneeled. Looking into her eyes, he saw it all. Her blood, her pain. The love she carried for him within every inch of her heart. The hate she carried for herself. What reflected in his own eyes, he did not know. She motioned for him to near her. Then she raised her right hand.

"For every tear you have shed, I have shed three." She traced a line from his eyes to his chin with her blood. "For every time you have doubted me, I have doubted myself." She traced his jawbone. "And for every thought of love you think, the more assured I am that I love you." She placed her hand on his cheek, and for the first time, he really looked at her. Their lips met.

The sun began to rise, red in the sky. To one side, the blazing silhouettes of the rising sun. To the other, the cold, silvery darkness of the setting moon.

A/N: How did you like the last and final alternate ending? I couldn't make it entirely happy go lucky. You all know I am not like that! I did the best I could with a happy ending to a not so happy story. Do tell me what you think!! I think you all should try and break 100 for me! Thank you all so very much for reading my story. Truly, you are the ones that have made my inspiration ongoing. I hope you continue to read things that I will be writing in the future.